Sports
Nogales Boys Basketball Wins First CIF Championship in 78-65 win
Dale Batac leads all scorers with 30 points including 5 of 10 from behind the Arc to lead Nogales it its first ever CIF title
AZUSA – 1995. That was the last time Nogales advanced to a CIF final game but were rudely dispatched by perennial powerhouse Mater Dei. Fast Forward 23 years later. Nogales did not let its opportunity slip. as it jumped to a fast start and never looked back enroute to a 78-65 victory over Foothill Technology Saturday afternoon.
Junior point guard Dale Batac led all scorers with 30 points, including 5 of 9 from behind the arc. Matthew Frazier added 16 points and six rebounds. Brandon Nguyen and Michael Moreno each tallied nine points, while junior center Bershoun Levi led defensively, grabbing a game high 14 rebounds.
Batac shrugged off his shooting prowess, however.
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“At the end of the day, if I wasn’t making my shots, I know someone else will,” he said.
Nogales jumped to a quick 15-7 lead culminated by Batac’s 3-pointer at the buzzer, and then went on another 14-3 run to take a commanding 36-15 lead into halftime.
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Nogales forced the usually adapt Dragons into a lot of bad shots, and even when they were able to get a good look or and easy lay up, Foothill Tech weren’t able to connect. They ended up 1 of 9 from behind the arc and 5 of 28 in the first half.
“The basketball Gods weren’t on our side in the first half,” Foothill Technology coach Dean Prophet said. “I don’t know when we’ve only scored 15 points in a half all season. That got us in a hole.”
Foothill Technolgy, however, didn’t go away, as they cut into most of the 25 point lead in the fourth quarter as Nogales struggled to convert late free throws. The Dragons, however ran out of time, and Nogales emerged as CIF champions.
“It’s crazy,” Frazier said. “To have alumni from out of state come here and support us and we’re the first ones to do it and they’re the ones that built this up. It’s just crazy.
Nogales now advances into its first ever state tournament, as it hosts Calvary Baptist of LaVerne Wednesday. Tipoff is at 7pm.
Photo: Nogales Coach Sameer Bhatt Happily accepts his first CIF trophy.